FAQ's

When you spend time with technology you often have to consult Frequently asked Questions (FAQ's) regularly. Since I started school I have been asked several questions over and over again so I thought I should create my own FAQ for school

Q: What are you going to get your degree in?
A: Economics

Q: Why Economics?
A: Several reasons

1. Micro and Macro economics were really fascinating to me and I wanted to study the subject further.


2. The degree fits with my current job and experience as well as anything


3. At my age MBA's are a dime a dozen so a BS in management does not really help me stand out in the job market.

Q: Why Now?

A: There are doors that will not open to me unless I have a Bachelors, and because my employer values eduction. Also I would like to finish college before my oldest starts.

Q: When do you have time to study

A: Short answer generally during the time I use to play video games. (I have found a way to mix gaming back in but I do not have time like I use to)

Q: When will you graduate?

A: If I can keep a pace of 9 hours per semester and if I take classes next summer than I will be finished Fall 2012.

Thanks for all of the encouragement and well wishes from family and friends.

Hi Ho Hi Ho its back to school I go

So realizing that it has been almost a year since I updated my blog, I decided I should either update it or eliminate it. I could not bring myself to do the latter so here I am.

I am playing a new game right now. Its called the "I think I need a bachelors degree" game I've been thinking about going back to school for a couple of years now (well, really since I started working at the U) Life just kept getting in the way. An opportunity opened up late spring and I decided I should grab it. I really want to be done before my oldest graduates from High School.

If I had really been on top of it and blogged while I was going through the process you would have been able to read all about my adventures as I started summer semester. Since I was not allow me to summarize.

A: Text books are still a rip off.
B: College kids think they are really smart... they are not... and they think they know all about the real world.... they don't
C: Discussions are far more interesting when you are the same age or older than your professor
D: I care about grades more than I did when I was in school before. This is a real irony because as my brother pointed out I could be on the C's get degrees track since it is unlikley that anyone is going to be looking at my transcripsts.
E: I really need to learn to speed read

I finished summer semester with a 3.8 and I am pretty proud of that, my GPA was never that high in my past. My kids are enjoying turning the tables and asking me if my home work is done and if I am really doing the best that I can. When I got 2 A-'s on my report card Ashley said "dad Im not going to beat you up for an A- but was that really the best you could do?"

I am finishing the 2nd week of fall semester now and I'll try to post more frequently from now on.

School Disclosures and other buracratic Nonsense

So the kids started school last month. With a new school year the mounds of stupid paper work for the parents to fill out comes. (I really hate it when a school teacher give me homework) The problem is that with every year my children advance in school the mound of paperwork increases exponentially. (there is probably some postulate, theorem or scientific theory to explain this but they did not teach it to me in school) These disclosures are becoming more condescending each year to the point that they are now insulting. This year I struck back.

Case 1. My child's high school has created a new Draconian attendance policy. The largest issue I have with the policy is that way it is written. If my child misses school, I have to provide and excuse notice and a justification for that excuse. My fundamental problem with this is that I am the father if I say my child is excused no further justification for the absence is required. My law with my children supersede any policy, law that exist within the school. I crossed out the attendance policy provision on every disclosure with a little note that we would not comply and sent it back. My son said he got some interesting looks and comments from the teachers.

Case 2. The schools have been providing a "Bus Disclosure" that needed to be signed prior to my children riding the bus to school. This is by far one of the most insulting documents I have ever been given by a school. It is written in such a condescending tone and states things that should be common sense as if it is some great revelation. I have been able to ignore this document for 3 years now with no consequences this year my daughter went to get on the bus to come home and they would not let her on because I had not signed the document. I still would not sign their document so I made my own. It went like this

"I give permission for my daughter to ride the bus. I promise that she will be a good little girl. I understand that if she is not she may not be able to ride the bus any more"

My wife said my note sounded sarcastic.... I was a bit disappointed I was going for condescending. They let her ride the bus after receiving my note

I know they are small and petty things but I am getting tired of government agencies creating a form for every problem and acting like we are 5 years old. Next year I am going to write my own disclosures for the teachers to sign. Feel free to give any suggestions for my document.

Anniversary of my 39th birthday

Today I celebrate the 1st Anniversary of my 39th birthday. Ive always said that age is just a number and it does not really matter but I just cant bring myself to say for........ nope not even going to write it.

Its weird to think that in another 10 years I could have kids married and will have the option to retire and start another career. My life is good and I plan to be around for 50 to 60 years more. Thanks to all my well wishers and friends.

Camping Again

Really, I went camping again. I slept in a tent (with an air mattress), the toilets did not flush, the showers were a bit scary, and I did this for a whole week. I went with our 12 year old scouts to the Bear Lake Aquatics Base. Last time I was there I was 12 and it was my first scout camp. Not much has changed but they now have a mess hall and WI-FI for the scoutmasters so that is cheating a little bit. The lake was nice when it was not hot it was windy. I think I am done camping for the year. There is winter camp but I am trying to get the leaders to schedule it in May or move it to St George.

Old Friends and Sentiment

Today I Ran into an a friend that I grew up with, it has been 20 years since Ive seen him. (note: the fact that I can say something happened 20 years ago and it does not involve me learning to walk, scoring a touchdown or some other youthful memory is disconcerting but that is another blog for another time.) This friend is someone that I admired while growing up. He was a hard worker and a high achiever, He had a positive influence on my life that is still part of who I am today. We were only able to spend about 5 minutes catching up and chances are I will not see him again for a long time. I realized how little contact I have now with those who influenced me when I was younger and it seems really sad that they may or may not know the influence they had on my life. We all have people in our lives that influence us to be better people, it is important to express gratitude to them when you have the chance. My friend probably still doesn't know the positive effect he has had on my life, and it would have been difficult to convey in a 5 minute conversation, but I certainly had opportunities before today.

"If I have seen far it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants" Take time to thank the giants in your life you never know if you will have an opportunity again.

Challenges in Technology

We have a fairly new computer and the other day the hard drive started to crap out. Fortunately there was 14 days left on the warranty. The bad news was we lost all of information on that drive because HP could not recover any data. Many years of pictures, Marilyn's recipe book and who knows what else is now gone. I know about backing data up but did not do it as it should be done. Maybe its time to look at a drobo I do not think I want to trust an online service yet. I love technology but sometimes it bites you in the butt. The moral of the story back up... especially those things that really matter.